Edye Groseclose, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Medical Sciences, but she teaches students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Dental Medicine, the College of Pharmacy and the College of Optometry.
This is because she teaches biochemistry, which she said is important not only for medicine but also for pharmacology, pathology and most of the systems that medical students learn about.
“Biochemistry is fundamental to just about everything else in medicine,” she said. “It’s the vocabulary for the study of medicine. It’s so fundamental that it’s the basis of the further study that students undertake to become doctors.”
Though she received her bachelor’s degree in botany, Groseclose was ultimately attracted to biochemistry and eventually studied pulmonary medicine. She received her doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Miami and did post-doctoral studies in pulmonary medicine, including a year as a Parker B. Francis Fellow. Afterward, she began teaching at the Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, which became the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences and merged with Nova University in 1994, creating NSU. She has received Golden Apple and medical alumni awards for her teaching.
Groseclose said she finds excitement in the day-to-day activities of her job and considers herself lucky to be able to make a living doing something she loves.
“I really enjoy what I do,” Groseclose said. “So for me, most days, coming to work is sort of special. I feel privileged to be able to do what I’m doing, to be able to make a living at something I really love to do.”
She also enjoys preparing to teach and interacting with students every day. Groseclose said she tries to teach the way she would like to be taught: by being clear, up-to-date, receptive to questions and open for discussion outside of class.
Another one of her regular activities is co-leading meditation every Wednesday morning in the Health Professions Division Library.
“It’s generic, silent sitting,” she said. “We sit quietly, follow the breath and calm the mind.”
Groseclose is also a volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem Program, an organization that represents the best interests of children in dependency. She has been with them for over five years and said it is a gratifying pursuit.
“At his/her discretion, the judge appoints the Program,” she said. “The Program then selects a Guardian ad Litem for the case. Our job is to represent the child in court as the advocate solely for the welfare of the child.”
Groseclose has been practicing Buddhism for 30 years and is halfway through a Buddhist chaplaincy program.
“I decided [chaplaincy] would be interesting in terms of my practice, and also to increase my knowledge, and to help me learn how better to serve,” she said.
Groseclose also enjoys doing yoga every day and playing golf when she has the time, which she said has not happened recently. She walks about a mile to and from work when she can and enjoys reading about Buddhism, psychology and biochemistry.
